Stile and mounting therefor



Oct. 29, 1963 3,108,664

J. E. VAWTER STILE AND MOUNTING THEREFOR Filed Dec. 6, 1960 IN V EN TOR.

35 2? Jawa/@wieg United States Patent O 3,108,664 STILE AND MUNlINGTHEREFR .lohn E. Vawter, Elkhart, Ind., assigner to Henry WeisManufacturing Company, lne., Elkhart, Ind., a corporation of DelawareFiled Dec. 6, 196%, er. No. '74,166 4- Clairns. (Cl. 1891-42) Thisinvention relates to Stiles, and has to do more particularly with Stilesand mounting means therefor as used for supporting doors and partitionsin constructing toilet, shower, dressing and other analogous smallcompartments.

The usual practice in constructing compartments of the charactermentioned is to anchor a ring, a steel bar with both ends broached, oran open frame to the' supporting structure, such as a floor, and thensecure the end of the stile, by welding, to the frame. That isobjectionable for numerous reasons. The necessity for securing thestile, usually formed of panels with an enamel finish, to the frame isapt to cause impairment of the finish, particularly if welding is used.If the stile is iioor anchored, the lower ends of the panels, usuallyformed of rather thin-* gauge, for exampleenameling iron, are subjectedto destructive rusting or corrosion due to fioor washing solution andwater entering between the anchoring frame and the stile panels. Thatmay be caused by inaccurate lit between the stile end and the anchoringframe and, also, by capillary action. Further, if the outer enamelcoating of the stile panels is impaired by welding or otherwise, rustingor corrosion of the panels from the outer faces thereof may occur atsuch impaired areas. If the stile is ceiling anchored, rusting may notas rapidly occur as when iioor anchored, but will occur due tocondensation of moisture on the stile and seepage of such condensatebetween the stile panels and the anchor frame. In either case, theanchoring means is not accessible with the stile in place and accurateadjustment for truing up the stile is diiiicult.

My invention is directed to a stile and mounting means therefor wherebythe above noted difficulties in respect to the known structures abovementioned are avoided. lt is an object of my invention to provide meanswhereby the stile may be firmly anchored to a floor or other supportingstructure without risk of impairment of the enamel or other iinish ofthe panels. A further object is to support the end of the stile inspaced relation to supporting structure thereby eliminating, or greatlyreducing, rusting or corrosion of the stile endand associated parts,particularly in the case of licor anchored stile. An additional andimportant object of my invention is to provide stile mounting andanchoring means which permits of the stile being adjusted bothvertically and horizontally when in place, for truing up, withexpedition and facility. It is also an object of my invention to providea protective boot or fitting, of generally known type, which may readilybe secured in place after the stile has been properly adjusted andsecured, and which encloses the end portion of the stile and associatedparts, effective for excluding moisture to a large extent whileimparting a neat and attractive appearance to such end portion of thestile. Further objects and advantages of my invention will appear fromthe detail description.

In the drawings:

FIGURE l is a front view of two stiles and mounting means thereforembodying my invention, with a door therebetween mounted on one of theStiles;

FIGURE 2 is a transverse sectional View, on an enlarged scale, takensubstantially on line 2 2 of FIG- URE 1, but omitting the filling orcore of the stile;

Fatentecl Get. 29, i963 ice- FIGURE 3 is a sectional view takensubstantially on line 3-3 of FIGURE 2, certain parts being shown inelevation and the supporting structure or floor being shownfragmentarily in section;

FIGURE 4 is a front view of the lower portion of the stile and itsmounting means on an enlarged scale relative to FIGURE l, the protectivefoot fitting being shown in section and the supporting structure or doorbeing shown fraginentarily in section, certain parts being shown inelevation; and

FIGURE 5 is a side view of the lower portion of the stile and itsmounting means, also on an enlarged scale relative to FlGURE 1, theprotective foot tting being shown in section and the supportingstructure or iioor being shown fragmentarily in section.

In FIGURE 1, I have shown two Stiles 6 with a swinging door 7therebetween suitably mounted on one of the stiles, the latter beingshown as anchored to a floor, by way of example, it being understoodthat the stile may be anchored to a ceiling or any other suitablesupporting structure, as is known. The stiles and the door shown inFIGURE l may be considered as illustrative of one of the smallcompartments above referred to.

Referring to FIGURE 4, the floor 9 is shown as comprising a lower' baseportion l@ of concrete, an upper relatively thin finishing section orlayer ll, also of concrete though it may be of Wood or other suitablematerial, and a covering l2 of ceramic tile or other suitable material.The iioor 9 is provided with suitably disposed bores or recesses l whichreceive expandible anchors 14 of known type appropriately disposed forreception of anchor bolts threaded therein and effective for expandingthe anchors 14 tightly against the surrounding walls of the recesses 13.

The respective stiles 6 comprise opposed panels 16 of enameling iron ofappropriate gauge provided interiorly and exteriorly with a coating ofacid resisting porcelain enamel applied thereto in accordance withstandard practice. The side edge portions of the panels 16 are bentinwardly at right angles to provide flanges 17, the inner edge portionsof which are bent outwardly to provide channel elements 18 extendinglengthwise of panels 16, similar flanges and channel elements beingprovided at the upper ends or top of panels 16, assuring that the stileis floor anchored. A filler or core (not shown) formed of corrugatedpaperboard or other suitable material is disposed between the panels 16and is cemented under pressure to the inner faces thereof. The channelelements I8 are spot welded together at 19 at appropriate points andfinishing molding strips Ztl of arcuate crosss section are applied tothe sides and top of the stile. The finishing strips 2i) may be formedof stainless steel or other appropriate material and are provided, ateach side thereof, with inwardly extending flanges 21 which seat on theflanges i7 of panels 16 and engage into the channel elements lllthereof. The upper ends of the side finishing strips 2@ are beveled andare welded to the beveled ends of the top finishing strip, providingtherewith a frame which fits neatly about the sides and the top of thestile. While the stile preferably is constructed as stated, it may be ofany suitable construe tion, within the broader aspects of my invention,as will be understood.

` Each of the panels 16 is provided at its lower end witl a downwardextension 23 of generally rectangular shape and of substantially lesswidth than the panel 16 anc equidistant from the sides thereof. Supportplates 24 o: generally H-form are fixed, conveniently by spot weld ing,to the inner faces of the panels I6, at the lower end: thereof, and tothe inner faces of the extension Z3. The plates 24 may be secured to thepanels by any suitable conventional form of Welding, though spot weldingis preferred as being less injurious to the metal finish and appearanceof the panels. Each of the plates 24 comprises an upper head 25 seatingon and secured to the lower end of the corresponding panel 16 at theinner face thereof, a reduced neck 26 of less width than extension 23seating on and secured to the inner face of the latter, and a channelelement 27 integrally attached to the lower end of neck 26 extendinginwardly from extension 23 and opening upwardly or toward the other endof panel 16. The support plates 24 are centered relative to the panels16, as will be understood, and the channel elements 27 are of a length,i.e. extent transversely of the panels 16, approximating the width ofthe latter but preferably terminate a short distance from the sides ofthe panel. The provision of the downward extension 23 of panel 16, ofreduced width, in conjunction with the support plate 24 and partscarried thereby, gives ready access to the space between necks 26 ofplates 24 while also providing at each side of the extensions 23 anopening or space 28 of material extent both vertically and horizontallybetween the lower ends of the panels 16 and the channel elements 27assuring ready access to the panel mounting and anchoring means, as willappear presently.

Two anchor plates 30 of inverted channel cross section extend betweenchannel elements 27 with their side flanges 31 seating therein. Each ofthe plates 30 is provided with a lengthwise slot 32 which receives ananchor stud or bolt 33. A nut 34 is threaded on each stud 33 at theupper portion thereof and seats on a washer 35 seating on the upper faceof the anchor plate 30. The stud 33 and nut 34 together provide ananchor bolt effective for exerting downward pressure on the anchor plate3i) and, through the latter, on the support plates 24 and the panels 16.A second nut 36 is threaded on each of the studs 33 below the channelelements 27 and seats on the underface of a washer 37 bridging thedistance between the channel elements 27 and seating thereon at itsupper face. The nut 36 and washer 37 provide, in conjunction with nut 34and washer 35, means for clamping tightly together the anchor plate 30and the channel elements 27, the maximum height of the latter beingappropriate to that end. A third nut 38 is threaded on stud 33 below nut36. Nut 38 seats on the upper face of a washer 39 seating at its lowerface on the upper face of a spring clip 40 through which the stud 33passes. The clip 40 is provided at opposite sides thereof with upwardlyand outwardly extending resilient arms 41 having at their upper endsdownwardly and outwardly inclined lingers 42. The lingers 42 aredisposed to engage the upper edges of upwardly and inwardly extendingflanges 43 provided at the lower end of a foot or finishing fitting 44formed of stainless steel or other suitable material. The upper portionof fitting 44 is suitably formed and dimensioned to fit snugly about thelower end portion of stile 6 and to enclose the extensions 23 andassociated parts, the lower portion of fitting 44 being of increasedwidth, as shown, and enclosing the portions of studs 33 and associatedparts extending downward beyond the extension 23. After the stile 6 hasbeen properly mounted and anchored the fitting 44, which may bepositioned on the stile 6 at a suitable height during the mounting andanchoring thereof, is slid downward to its position seating on thesupporting structure or floor. During such downward movement of fitting44 the fingers 42 and arms 41 are flexed inward and as the fitting 44reaches its lowermost position the fingers 42 snap outward over theupper edges 3f flanges 43, effective for securing the fitting inposition. Should it be desired to raise the fitting 44 for cleaning,repairs or other purposes, that may be accomplished by noving it upwarda short distance, thereby deflecting :he arms 41 and the fingers 42slightly inward, after which a blade or other suitable instrument may bei11- sertcd beneath the sides of litting 44 so as to press the arms 41inward to inoperative position and permit the fitting 44 to be raised afurther distance sufficient to assure that the flanges 43 clear thelingers 42. The fitting 44 preferably is provided at its upper end witha downwardly and inwardly turned flange 45, similar to flange 43, toassure a snug lit of the upper end of the fitting about the stile 6.

ln mounting and anchoring the stile 6, the studs 33 may first bethreaded to proper extent into the expandible anchors 14, after whichthe washers 37 and thc parts therebelow may be properly positioned uponthe studs 33. The stile 6 may then be positioned upon the washers 37with the studs 33 extending upward between channel elements 27, afterwhich the anchor plates 30, washers 35 and nuts 34 may be positionedupon the studs 33, the footing or finishing fitting 44 remaining in itsraised position upon stile 6. Thereafter the proper adjustments are madefor accurately positioning the stile 6 both vertically and horizontally.Following such adjustments, the nuts 34, 36 and 33 are tightened up forsecuring the parts of the assembly together and clamping the anchorplates 3G to the channel elements 27, the litting 44 being then loweredinto its operative position in which it is held by the spring clips.Preferably, the studs 33 are so spaced as to extend into the openings orspaces 2S so as to render readily accessible the parts mounted thereon.The spacing of studs 33 may be varied to suit requirements, as will beunderstood, and the parts carried by the studs above the channelelements 27 will be accessible for making desired adjustments even whendisposed inward beyond the spaces 28. In that connection, the anchorplates 30 when not clamped to the channel elements 27 may be adjustedlengthwise thereof as permitted by the slots 32 in the anchor plates 30.That is desirable and advantageous in facilitating adjustments tocompensate for any slight inaccuracies in the anchor bolts or studs 33.The mounting and anchoring means of my invention thus provides foradjustment of the stile 6 both vertically and horizontally effective forassuring accurate truing up thereof while also anchoring the stile tothe associated supporting structure and effectively precludingpossibility of objectionable looseness or play thereof.

As will be understood from the above, the stile mounting is so designedthat the support plates 24 may be secured to the enameling iron panels16 before the porcelain enamel is applied. Accordingly, the completeassembly can be protected with a porcelain enamel finish, which isdesirable for obvious reasons. Further, the support plates 24 aredesigned to permit spot welding thereof to the panels 16 withcorresponding minimum injury to or disturbance of any galvanized coatingapplied to the panels 16. That is particularly desirable in cases wheregalvanized steel panels covered with a baked enamel are used and assuremaximum protection against rusting in such cases.

It will be understood that changes in detail may be restorted to withoutdeparting from the field and scope of my invention, and I intend toinclude all such variations, as fall within the scope of the appendedclaims, in this application in which the preferred form only of myinvention has been disclosed.

Iclaim:

1. In stile mounting means, a stile comprising two spaced apart panels,support plates fixed to said panels at one end of said stile andprovided with inwardly extending channel elements opening away from saidone end of said stile, two anchor plates of channel cross sectionextending between said support plates and having side flanges seating insaid channel elements of said support plates, said anchor plates eachhaving a lengthwise slot therein and being independently adjustablelengthwise of said channel elements, and anchor means comprising anchorbolts passing through said slots of said anchor plates and means carriedby said bolts cooperating therewith for clamping said anchor plates tosaid channel elements, said stile being provided at the sides of saidone end thereof with openings giving ready access to said anchor means.

2. In stile mounting means, a stile comprising two spaced apart panelsrespectively having at one end thereof an extension of substantiallyreduced width, support plates fixed to the inner faces of said panelsrespectively having an outwardly extending portion of substantially lessWidth than the associated panel provided at its outer end with aninwardly extending channel element opening away from said one end ofsaid stile and projecting beyond the sides of said extension of thecorresponding panel, two anchor plates having side anges seating in saidchannel elements and being independently adjustable lengthwise thereof,said anchor plates having lengthwise slots therein, and anchor meanscomprising anchor bolts at the outer portions of said channel elementspassing through said slots of said anchor plates and means carried bysaid bolts cooperating therewith for clamping said anchor plates to saidchannel elements.

3. In stile mounting means, a stile comprising two spaced apart panelsrespectively having at one end thereof an extension of substantiallyreduced width, support plates ixed to the inner faces of said extensionsof said panels and respectively having an inwardly extending channelelement opening away from said one end of said stile and disposed inproximity to the outer end of the corresponding stile extension, twoanchor plates of channel cross section extending between said supportplates and having side flanges seating in said channel elements of saidsupporting plates, said anchor plates having lengthwise slots thereinand being independently adjustable lengthwise of said channel elements,and anchor means comprising anchor bolts passing through said slots ofsaid anchor plates and means carried by said bolts cornprising spacedabutment members on said bolts seating on said anchor plates and saidchannel elements effective for clamping said anchor plates to saidchannel elements.

4. In stile mounting means, a stile comprising two spaced apart panelshaving at one end thereof an eXtension of substantially reduced width,support plates fixed to said panels and said extensions thereof andrespectively havinU an outer channel element projecting beyond the sidesof said extension and opening toward the other end of said stile, ananchor plate of channel cross section extending between said supportplates and having side ilanges seating in said channel elements of saidsupport plates, an anchor bolt passing through said anchor plate,abutment members on said bolt seating on said anchor plate and saidchannel elements respectively, and nuts threaded upon said bolt inpressure contact with said abutment members effective for clampingtherebetween said anchor plate and said channel elements.

Reierences Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES FATENTS1,295,368 Pilkington Feb. 25, 1919 2,240,484 Anderson May 6, 19412,881,876 Williams Apr. 14, 1959 2,968,374 Bohnsack Ian. 17, 1961

1. IN STILE MOUNTING MEANS, A STILE COMPRISING TWO SPACED APART PANELS,SUPPORT PLATES FIXED TO SAID PANELS AT ONE END OF SAID STILE ANDPROVIDED WITH INWARDLY EXTENDING CHANNEL ELEMENTS OPENING AWAY FROM SAIDONE END OF SAID STILE, TWO ANCHOR PLATES OF CHANNEL CROSS SECTIONEXTENDING BETWEEN SAID SUPPORT PLATES AND HAVING SIDE FLANGES SEATING INSAID CHANNEL ELEMENTS OF SAID SUPPORT PLATES, SAID ANCHOR PLATES EACHHAVING A LENGTHWISE SLOT THEREIN AND BEING INDEPENDENTLY ADJUSTABLELENGTHWISE OF SAID CHANNEL ELEMENTS, AND ANCHOR MEANS COMPRISING ANCHORBOLTS PASSING THROUGH SAID SLOTS OF SAID ANCHOR PLATES AND MEANS CARRIEDBY SAID BOLTS COOPERATING THEREWITH FOR CLAMPING SAID ANCHOR PLATES TOSAID CHANNEL ELEMENTS, SAID STILE BEING PROVIDED AT THE SIDES OF SAIDONE END THEREOF WITH OPENINGS GIVING READY ACCESS TO SAID ANCHOR MEANS.